Doctoral Project Abstract

An Organizational Redesign of a Non-Profit Organization: NNOA, Inc.

Bea Henderson
Regent University

In this project, I conducted a thorough evaluation of the organizational structure, internal operations and processes of the National Naval Officers Association, Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Also taken into consideration were different factors that could affect the redesign decision and the implementation. This examination allowed me to then make several organization redesign suggestions to be implemented by this organization. The NNOA was founded in 1972 with a mission to increase the diversity of the sea services through recruitment, retention, and professional development of its members. The NNOA is looked to by the sea service chiefs and other top ranking officials to help in their mission to also increase their organizational diversity. However, with very little changes, the structure established at the time of formation is still very much in place today. With only the effort of dedicated member volunteers for the past 36 years, NNOA has been able to passably achieve it mission. But times are getting more demanding and the volunteer effort is no longer enough to get the organization where it needs to be and allow it to meet its mission now and in the future. This is especially so since most of the volunteer efforts come from its mostly active duty members and they are being deployed in support of operational endeavors.

Interviews with the board of directors, its advisors, and other key members (both long-term and short-term) served as the basis for the recommendations suggested in this project. Recommendations were made concerning changes to organizational structure, addition of staff, the composition of the board of directors, and other procedural changes that will allow the organization to operate more effectively and efficiently. One of these recommendations was already approved by the board and is currently being implemented. Others have been approved and awaiting the time for when it should be implemented while others are still under consideration pending approval by the general body of members.

This project also includes a section on what the organization needs to know to trouble shoot organizational redesign issues. Additionally, disaster recovery information for the organization is also provided.